Troubleshooting to Determine Air Conditioning Repair Need

Finally summer has arrived. You're dreaming of curling up with a good book in your nice cool home. This year, however, your air conditioner is leaking water. Perhaps you are using a window unit, or maybe you have central air. Either way a puddle forming in your basement, or pooling around your window unit, is not a good thing.

First let us consider how your unit works. Basically your unit is taking humidity out of the air, humidity that it is turning into water that it drains. Your unit is either draining through a drainpipe or it has a condensate pump. Sometimes, the water does not drain properly and that is what we are trying to figure out. What is causing the water to drain improperly?

It is a good idea to look at your unit closely. Can you see where the water is coming from? Is it pooling under the machine? Is it dripping from somewhere inside the unit? If your unit seems like it is wet inside it would be a good idea to turn it off. You may want to call for air conditioning repair. Otherwise perhaps it is a problem with the drain.

First let us check your hose. If you are running a central air system it could have a drain hose. Is something sitting on that hose? Maybe that tote of outgrown clothes that you just placed in the basement. No? Is the end of the hose underwater? If your hose is under water then it is not going to drain. Lift your hose out of the water and the water that was trapped in the hose will start to drain. Be sure your hose ends before the drain pan so it doesn't sit in water. Is water trying to run uphill? Everything must be pointing down. This should ensure that things should be flowing. If this doesn't remedy it let us check the hose more closely.

Perhaps there is a hole in your hose. The hose may need to be replaced. You can purchase a hose at some hardware stores. Bring any old fittings with you to be sure you replace it with the correct size. Still got a puddle?

Let's consider that your basement is humid. If this is the case it can cause the outside of the unit to be covered in condensation. This is not your unit's fault and won't require air conditioning repair. The situation will likely be helped by a dehumidifier. Get one plugged in and get going.

Still have a puddle? If so it's probably time to call for air conditioning repair. You have gathered valuable information that will give the repairman an idea of what it could be. If nothing else you have made sure your service call is not because of something embarrassing or silly.